Japanese Obon (oh bohn) festivals are summer time local events which originated from Buddhist…read morephilosophy 2,500 years ago in India. One of Shakamuni Buddha's disciples, Maha Maudgalyayana or Mokuren in Japanese, had supernatural powers and could see his mother suffering in the afterworld. He conferred with the Buddha who counseled him to make food offerings to his fellow monks which was on the 7th month of lthe 15th day. This act of kindness released his mother from agony. Mokuren was overjoyed not only by the fact that his mother was no longer suffering, but also remembered her sacrifices & unselfishness toward him while she was still on this earth. This realization made him dance for joy & gratefulness. Hence to this day, during the Obon Festival, ancestors are venerated, and people dance in the dark, warm, humid summer evenings in joy & gratefulness like Mokuren. I have two left feet so I had to opt out of the Obon dancing, but in order to help with the temple fund raising, I bought something that is very near and dear to my heart or should I say stomach. I ordered Yaki To-morokoshi or roasted corn on the cob. Being in California, not only was there the traditional Teriyaki sauce to glaze over the corn, you could butter it up and pour on powdered Parmesan cheese, or sprinkle on Pico de Gallo Chile powder mix, etc. The corn was fresh & sweet and tasted of summer. Also ordered their charcoal grilled beef Teriyaki which was quite good. The Teriyaki sauce had a strong taste of Sho-yu (soy sauce) with a touch of sugar & a soupcon of ginger. I tend to like complex flavours since being in California I am influenced by all sorts of cuisine like Korean & Mexican so at home I would whore my version of teriyaki with garlic, pureed jalapeno peppers & cilantro. But I can see my version would be a little too busy for some people. For dessert, we ordered the Japanese Shaved Ice known as Ko-ri. This variant is called Kintoki which is Azuki beans simmered with sugar for hours until the beans are sweet and soft. The sweetened Azuki beans are then poured over the soft, snowy ice. For added extra creaminess, I ordered condensed milk to be drizzled on top of the shaved ice. The Filipino crushed ice dessert drink called Halo Halo has similar cooked sweet beans that reminds me of azuki beans. By now the Bon Odori (dance) started and the dancers started to circle & dance in a counter-clockwise direction. We watched and hanged around until it became dark. Obon Festivals are relaxed, laid back family/friends events, and are a good excuse to meet people you haven't met for some time. It reminds me a little like Mexico where people do the Paseo around the town square meeting and talking with friends, relatives, lovers, etc. except Obon lasts only 3 days in Japan.

Came here for Obon festival, and it was lit!…read more The crowd was so much fun, there was plenty of food and dancing. The people were really fun, and the Temple's grounds were spacious. Highly recommend!

Beautiful practical teachings in a serene setting. Meditations for a modern world and a busy life…read more... My wife, my kids and I all Thank you:)

From the owner: At the beginning of each class, the teacher will guide a gentle, soothing meditation in which he or…read moreshe will help us to relax our body and mind and let go of our problems. Then the teacher will give a practical teaching on some aspect of Buddhist meditation and practice. There is usually time for discussion and questions and answers. Our teachers are trained in helping us to apply Buddha's advice to our own daily lives with appropriate analogies, stories, reasoning and humor. The session ends with a guided meditation, designed to help us take the teaching to heart in such a way that we are confident in beginning to practice it on our own. Afterwards, for those who wish, there is a chance to talk to the teacher and other students informally. Join a wonderfully diverse and friendly group who -- individually and collectively -- are seeking inner peace and happiness through training the mind.

Hands down the most reasonably priced Thai food you'll find in the area! Wat Thai food court is…read moreonly open on the weekends, and it does get quite busy quite early. We arrived a little past 10 and were very fortunate to find a parking spot as the lot was just about completely full (there are attendants that help you out with the parking). Make sure to bring cash, as that's your main method of payment. You exchange your cash for colored tokens at a booth, and use the tokens to purchase food from the different stalls. If you have tokens left over, you can exchange them back for cash. There are so many food stalls and they all look like they have delicious food! I got a picture of my Pad Thai, but also ordered some fried rice and other foods to go. I thought the Pad Thai was very flavorful, and really can't be beaten for $8. There are lots of outdoor benches (covered) where you can sit and enjoy your food, and I also saw a lot of people getting food to go. Felt like an authentic night market. Definitely check it out if you're in the area!

Finally got to visit! Has been on my list for the longest…read moretime and finally had time to head out there. It was great to see so many people in small area form a little community. Parking wasn't bad, people in and out. Also street parking. Don't be confused by the token system! The $ amount is listed on the tokens: $1, $2, $5. Tried what is normally recommended. Pad Thai, Khao Soi Crispy Chicken Noodles, papaya salad, skewers, and Thai tea from Wat Thai cafe. About 15 vendors at the time of visit. Made sure to stop by the temple and did a little prayer. There's quite a few buddhas to pray to, depending on what you are hoping for.

This temple was founded over 100 years back by Japanese immigrants and Japanese Americans. This is…read morea historical gem in the valley! Members of the Hongwanji Buddhist temple are welcoming, friendly, and caring including their Reverend (a woman!) who recently retired. Currently we have two amazing assistant ministers during this transition. When I first arrived as a new person attending service with my partner's family, I felt welcomed and supported to learn service rituals which I was not not accustomed to. The best part of this temple are the people. As a collective working together, this multigenerational community make weekly service and member events possible every year. The Dharma here feels relevant to what is happening in the world and one can always join service as a guest without being a member yet, in person, or online. If looking for a non judgmental spiritual community, this is one in the valley.

This is a warm and welcoming community that has become a second home for me. It may seem a bit…read moreintimidating to begin coming, since the congregation is very tight knit, but the people are kind and the minister is incredibly compassionate. There is a weekend discussion group, which is how I first got to know the temple and its members, as well as Sunday services. The reverend's dharma talks (sermons) are always very applicable to daily life and help me try to be more mindful. Members are assigned to a volunteer group and each month the groups rotate in taking responsibilities around the temple (e.g., tidying up, prepping meals for lunch after a special service). It's not compulsory, but volunteering is a way to feel a part of the community and take ownership of the temple. There are also multiple groups for young people and in general, it's a very family friendly space. The temple also has an extensive library with holdings that range from scholarly texts to books for "nightstand" Buddhists to children's books. A Buddhist education committee also sponsors a variety of guest speakers and seminars who provide different perspectives on the dharma. Perhaps the temple is best known in the larger community for the annual Obon festival, held at the adjacent Japanese American Community Center in summertime. It's always a joyous occasion with plenty of food and activities (dancing, taiko drumming, bingo, a Japanese flea market, and other carnival games). During wintertime everyone pitches in for the annual mochi (rice cake) making. While generations of families have built and maintained the temple, nevertheless it really feels welcoming and it's always nice to see the communal spirit.

Beautiful Buddhist temple but I took out a star because I came here for a meditation class, but…read morethere was no one present when I arrived. I waited, and waited for an hour and I even tried knocking on some doors, but no one answered. So, I just walked around the temple grounds, enjoying the beautiful tree and the Buddhas. Would love to try their meditation class one day!

Good place primarily serving the Sri Lankan community. Mostly involved with traditional customs and…read morerituals in Buddhism. Although there was one western monk having a regular meditation program. Good to check if the program is still going on before visiting.

Love this place! Came here to listen to Dharma discourses and prostrate to the Buddha. And see what…read moreI found! All these cute little cats! The Buddhist nun said their mom gave birth to them and then left and never came back. So now they are taking care of the kittens.

Great place , peaceful and friendly. I've visited this temple many times and it really helps me…read morecalm my mind while learning about Buddhism. Highly recommended

It's a Buddhist temple; a place of worship, to practice the teachings Buddha, and is open to all…read more IMO it would be unjust to compare templates.

Very friendly people, and so warm and welcoming! The statues are magnificent! Worth at least 1…read morevisit, the size and details aren't picked up well in the photos. They have a parking lot inside the gates. Don't be shy. Come with your questions because they have plenty of answers.

Fantastic the warmest people to help make each individual strong. And the cause is the betterment…read moreof society by promoting World Peace

SGI Buddhism is life changing in a tangible, practical way. It conflicts with no other educational,…read morereligious or philosophical practice. I encourage anyone to try it and see how you feel after. Just a few of the core tenants that I like are: 1. There's no "middle-men" priests involved. It's a self-responsibility practice connecting directly with your own Buddha nature. 2. Everyone is entirely equal. No matter age, gender, class, etc. All are welcome and seen as having the same value. There's no hierarchy. 3. There is a mystic law the permeates everything. And through faith, practice and study of this law, we can raise our life condition to live with absolute happiness and supreme wisdom. 4. It's a practice for the self and others. Including the happiness and well-being of others is imperative. The organizations sole purpose is world peace through individual happiness. If you are at all wanting more joy or support or fulfillment, or even if you simply want a greater sense of peace... whatever the reason, practicing SGI Buddhism is a most profound way to create victory in your life.

It's a great community with all kinds of support and opportunities for connection! So grateful I…read morefound it!!

This is a small, close-knit community of spiritual believers who are very friendly and caring…read more Reverend Mike presents his message in a very articulate and insightful way while keeping it light-hearted at the same time with his kooky sense of humor. He keeps my attention (hardly ever doze off) and there's never a dull moment and I actually feel spiritually connected thru Reverend Mike thru his delivery style. And I love the message of spirituality that CSLGH puts forth of love and connectivity. I also love how they begin their services by lighting 10 candles which represent the good values and virtues of various religions as well as recognition of non-believers, ie a celebration that we are all part of God and are all one in togetherness. And the music is fantastic! There are 2 musicians who alternate and they are both great! Both Jason Goldstein and Teresa James are professional musicians who write music and play in bands and/or produce music. The music alone is worth going!